Alice Carney
Product Manager, Tesco
Alice Carney, 30, is a Product Manager in the Transport team for Tesco. Here, she discusses her route into a career in STEM with the retailer and the training and development opportunities it offers.
What does your role involve?
I work closely with engineers and a software development manager, looking at technical features and flows to understand what approach would deliver the best value for Tesco, its stakeholders and customers.
We use data derived from grocery orders to identify customer behaviours to look at operational improvements. That, for example, could include how long it takes to get packages ready to ensure a driver arrives at the destination at the right time.
What is it like to be a woman at Tesco in technology?
Choosing the right company truly comes down to shared values, and my experience with Tesco has been really positive. I’m really proud to be a part of this team.
Women in tech can take different guises in different companies and departments. I work in a backend team and wider product area, which traditionally attracts more men, but what’s important to me is that I feel heard and respected, with my views and opinions always valued.
What excites you most about the future of technology in retail?
Perhaps the most exciting bit is customer behaviour. I have always found that interesting, and the idea is that you can almost be ahead of customer behaviour and anticipate it. We saw with Covid that the way we live and shop can completely change overnight, and I think the retail market is still trying to figure out the change after the lockdown and whether people are going to shop the way they did before. With technology, we try to make people’s lives simpler, especially in retail and groceries and also make it a more enjoyable experience for our customers.
You can have the greatest development and
training packages ever, but you need the
time and space to make the most of it.
What are the training and development opportunities?
You can have the greatest development and training packages ever, but you need the time and space to make the most of it. Tesco offers a 20:80 mindset; in my team, Friday afternoons are devoted to learning experiences and online courses.
You do not have to learn about product management, for example. You can learn about more diverse topics that also feed back into what you do. I wanted to learn more about coding, so I could ‘speak the language’ of those around me.
What would you like other women to know about working in technology?
There can be apprehension among women about working in technology, but I would encourage people not to be put off by the assumptions about the technology industry. Women, and even girls, wanting to get into STEM should seek to build a network, because it is that network that will help you navigate the industry and open doors for you.
There is a lot out there now for women in tech. That can include following people you may have heard on podcasts or joining groups that can offer insight into STEM but also look for opportunities within the company you work for. Every company is different, but I have had a brilliant experience at Tesco.
What type of working culture gets the best out of you?
Tesco has values around diversity and inclusion. I was part of a year-long programme around black allyship and supporting black colleagues, and it was really important that I was able to be involved in that.
Such programmes enhance employee engagement and help individuals feel valued. Inclusive brands like Tesco create a culture of belonging, demonstrating how making diversity and inclusion a priority is both a moral and strategic advantage.
